The next morning wasn't nearly as awkward as it could have been. Stiles woke before Derek with his head on the older teen's chest and his arms wrapped around Derek's middle; who was hugging him in his sleep. It was only when Stiles moved to look up at him that Derek woke, cast a sleepy smile at him, and then stretched his arms above his head. Stiles patted his chest, then rolled over to allow him to stand, which he didn't.
Instead, Derek yawned and closed his eyes as though he intended to drift back to sleep. Had he sworn off calling Derek adorable? Because that was exactly the way the guy looked when he was trying to wake up. Stiles was sure that Derek would have been awake instantly if there were some threat. Definitely not taking his sweet time to get up. How he'd gone so long without realizing just how stupidly in love with this guy he was was a miracle.
"Sleep good, big guy?"
"Mm," Derek hummed, still avoiding opening his eyes. He looked so content there that Stiles wanted nothing more than to just let him sleep. Or.. curl against him again.
Much as he wanted to, he slid out of bed and dug into his dresser for a change of clothes. When he turned back to look at Derek, the elder boy had rolled over and clutched Stiles' pillow, already asleep again. Stifling a laugh, Stiles shook his head and slipped out of the room. He nearly collided with his father on the other side of the door. "Hey!" He grinned brightly.
Noah, still waking up, rubbed a hand at his face and stared at Stiles through one eye. Apparently 'innocence' didn't work on the old man. "You're chipper this morning," Noah remarked while trying to peer around Stiles into the bedroom.
He reached back, fumbled twice with the handle, then tugged it nearly closed behind him. "Slept great, dad. Let's get breakfast!"
Noah cocked his head to the side, scrutinizing his son before heaving a sigh. The look on his face said he didn't want to know what Stiles might be hiding in his room. "Can't. 12-car pile-up outside of town. All hands on deck."
"Geez!" Stiles frowned, then patted his father on the shoulder. "Get dressed, I'll get your coffee."
When Noah turned to head back to his room to do just that, Stiles pushed his door open long enough to toss his clothes onto the desk chair. He paused at the sight of Derek still dozing peacefully. It would appear that the Sheriff wasn't enough of a worry for an exhausted werewolf. With a little shake of his head, he closed the door fully and then went downstairs to the kitchen.
–
It carried on that way for nearly three months. While they waited to get the other wolves settled into apartments Stiles found Derek in his room, his bed, more often than not. Even after it was only Derek and Cora in the loft, Stiles would wake in the middle of the night with warmth at his side. Some nights he'd wake with his arm slung across Derek's stomach, curled against the man's side. Others he'd wake with Derek's draped around his middle and the big guy snoring softly in his ear. Those nights were the ones he liked best. Because it meant Derek had found comfort in sleeping beside him.
He always felt more rested the mornings after Derek was there than those he wasn't. Neither of them talked about it. After that first night, it just became the norm. When Derek was having difficulty sleeping, he'd climb through the window and curl into bed with him. When they'd had a particularly difficult training session, he'd slip in through the window. Most nights Stiles didn't truly fall asleep until Derek was there, even if he was already unconscious when the man arrived.
He knew he shouldn't get too attached to Derek being here like this, he shouldn't count on the elder teen showing up every night -or almost every night. It was only going to lead to heartbreak in the future. That would be Future Stiles' problem, though, wouldn't it? Present Stiles was enjoying the contact, the closeness. And he was betting that Derek was too.
They continued working together on the house, although it was rarely just the two of them now. With the weather turning colder, everyone was antsy to get it finished before there was a chance of snowfall. It wasn't often that Beacon Hills saw the same sort of snow as the more northern cities, but they did get some. Usually, however, it was just cold. If not for the fact that he had a higher core temperature now, Stiles was certain he'd come home every night numb and freezing. More than once he'd had to wear a hat and gloves out of the house just to appease his father. They were abandoned in the Jeep the moment he'd driven away from the house, though.
The once-captive wolves would join in with the work more often than not and the other Hales were around frequently. The twins were more knowledgeable than anyone had initially thought. They had helped their own family with building smaller structures, like chicken coops, when they were young and remembered a lot. Stiles and Lydia were the only two who could tell them apart with ease, even after months of spending time with them. Neither twin seemed worried by it and would often pretend to be the other just to mess with people. Aiden was a lot more jovial than Stiles had first thought, he just hid it well. Years of trauma would do that to a person. Both of them integrated into the pack seamlessly. While the two started to grow close to everyone, they were particularly protective over the Hale girls. The twins tended to hang out most often with Jackson, Boyd, and Stiles though could be seen with anyone at any given point.
Kira was fantastic and sweet. Honestly, Stiles adored her as much as he did Allison and Lydia. Always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it and she was fantastic on training nights. She jumped into the fray without regard for her own safety if it meant helping someone else. And it wasn't difficult to see that Isaac had become infatuated with her. Ash was still a little more withdrawn, only really coming out of his shell around the other Kitsune and, now, the Argents. He was kind and helpful and everyone liked him well enough. Everyone doted on little Sari. She participated in training sessions, but no one ever aimed a real hit at the girl. Something she regularly used to her advantage. She'd even clambered up on Boyd's shoulders one session in an attempt to take him down on her own. Boyd had pretended to give up the fight just for her.
Liam and Theo were thick as thieves, one was rarely seen without the other. Neither was particularly interested in training, both seemed to want to goof off more than take anything too seriously but they always managed to come through in the end. Theo was insanely intelligent for someone who had spent the majority of his life a captive and he had no problem with getting loud to get his point across if he felt he was in the right. The two of them spent more time with the Kanima than almost anyone else did. Corey was still withdrawn and skittish, especially around the Argents, but he would participate in everything. The effort was there. Not as much from Everett. He tended to sit around with his nose in a book more than help with much of anything. He was quiet and shy and kept to himself, despite everyone's attempts to involve him.
After Peter procured legal paperwork for everyone, Chris offered to adopt Sari. Which surprised everyone but it shouldn't have been much of one; The former hunter embraced the supernatural now that he wasn't living under his father's hateful shadow. It was clear Sari was pleased, though she would only agree if he adopted Kira and Ash as well. They were as much her siblings as anyone could be. Naturally, he agreed without hesitation. Allison attended every pack meet and spent her time training with the kitsune with a variety of weapons that they all picked up quicker than anyone expected.
Once everyone had their documents, Peter slowly enrolled the younger ones into classes, taking his time in doing so, so as not to arouse too much suspicion with the sheer amount of them. Most everyone was pleased to be doing something so normal as going to school. Those who didn't choose to go back to classes had just applied for their equivalence and found jobs so that the Hales and Argents weren't footing the bill for everything.
With so many people working on the pack house now, they'd nearly finished everything. An electrician and plumber were currently within it, doing the things none of the pack knew how while everyone else installed windows and put the last of the shingles onto the roof. There was still carpet to be laid, painting to be done, and all of the bathrooms and the kitchen still needed their appliances and counters installed. Everything was coming along beautifully.
As it was Sunday and a great deal of them had school the following morning, Stiles was planning to call it an early day after the last of the windows were in. Everyone had been working since dawn and they deserved a break. Honestly, he still marveled at how easily everyone had adapted to his being Alpha, especially since they were so used to following a Hale, and Cora was right there. It probably helped by leaps and bounds that Derek was his second. Really, the two of them worked so well together that things had become so seamlessly simple. Every so often they disagreed on something but found a solution without it turning toward frustration and he loved the guy for that.
Well, for a lot of things, but that helped. He lifted a window with Jackson's help -either of them could have managed alone, but with other people in the house they needed to be more subtle- and went upstairs with it. When they'd reached the third-floor landing Jackson grinned at him. "I've been meaning to ask: how long have you and Derek been together?"
Stiles nearly dropped the window in surprise. "Wha- we… we're not…" He knew his face had turned a brilliant shade of scarlet while stumbling over the words.
"No?" A smug sort of grin formed as Jackson held firm to the window so it didn't fall and crash. He must have been expecting that reaction. "You two always smell like each other."
"That's because we spend a lot of time together. I mean we work together." That was logical, right? The burning on his cheeks, however, was not.
"Mhm." He hummed knowingly, that cocky grin still taking residence on his lips. With less help from Stiles than he should have had with the oblivious humans in the house, Jackson carried the window into the room that would later be Isaac's. "I spend a lot of time around everyone and don't smell nearly as strong of them as you and Derek do each other."
Stiles cast a quick look around, wondering just how many others might be listening in. He could hear Derek, Peter, and Isaac on the roof talking about Isaac's college prospects. Scott was outside with Allison and Kira playing with Sari. Boyd and Erica were at work. Lydia was following one of the electricians around asking questions. No one seemed to be paying them any attention.
Aside from Scott, who had been his best friend for longer than he could honestly remember, Jackson was someone Stiles was sure he could trust with anything. The guy had always been honest with him. Brutally sometimes, but that was what he needed. Someone who didn't pull punches. Jackson could be a downright ass at times, but Stiles knew he meant well.
When he didn't immediately respond Jackson rolled his eyes and leaned the window against the wall, then stared at him expectantly. Stiles exhaled heavily and raked his hands back through his hair. "Okay, so you know when everyone was coming over to my house before?"
"When Deucalion was trying to kill you? I think that's permanently etched in my memory."
"And you refused to sleep in the cot?" Jackson's brows rose, a look that clearly said 'get to the point, idiot'. Stiles took a moment to listen for the others once more. "So, when everyone had basically taken over the loft Derek was coming over to my house to try and get some quality sleep.."
Jackson narrowed his eyes onto him. "Wait. So you guys are literally just sleeping together?"
"Sleeping, yeah." Stiles knew his face had reddened all over again. When the jock just stared again, he shifted his weight. "More often than not we wake up all curled together."
"You're an idiot." This wasn't the first time someone had said as much. "Okay, first off, it's scent bonding. All wolves do it with those they're closest with. Second, why don't you tell him you like him?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Stiles quickly turned his focus onto the window, pulling it away from the wall so that they could fit it into place. While he trusted Jackson, admitting that aloud where anyone could hear was difficult.
Jackson scoffed, "Right, because I haven't seen the way you look at him. The way you ignore the advances of half the girls at school or in the pack."
"What?" Advances? What advances? None that he could recall. Okay, Malia had been particularly chatty with him lately and there were a few girls at school who found reasons to talk to him when they didn't really need to. Maybe it was just him being oblivious but he'd just thought they were being friendly.
"God, you're such a loser, Stilinsk." Jackson shook his head while securing the window. "You like him, tell him."
"Why? Why when all it will do is upset the balance we've got going here? Everything is good, the pack is working well together, and all that's going to do is create tension. We don't need that. Why are you so worried about it anyway?" Stiles was still certain that bringing up his feelings to Derek would only drive a wedge between them. He didn't want that. Not for the first time did he think that he would rather have Derek in his life as a friend than not at all.
"Do you have any idea how annoying it is to watch you pine after him?"
"I'm not pining," he grumbled defensively.
"No, no. Not at all. You're just looking at him the same way Boyd looks at Erica, the same way Scott ogles Allison, the same way Isaac fawns over Kira." Sarcasm dripped from every word.
"Okay, I definitely don't 'fawn'." Stiles deadpanned which made Jackson snicker.
"Maybe not, but you should talk to him."
"I…" Stiles realized he didn't have a comeback. Why couldn't he think of something to say?! His inability to form the words caused the jock to smirk. "What would I even say? It's not like Derek would ever…" what? Like him too? No, the guy was straight as an arrow.
Jackson rolled his eyes. "Hopeless. Utterly hopeless. It's like talking to a child." He said it as though he were talking to himself while shaking his head. "Like I said: You're an idiot." Jackson scoffed and walked away, heading for the stairs.
They avoided any further Derek-related conversation while finishing their work, instead focusing on the task at hand or talking about their next training session. While Derek could direct their 'troops' with ease, Jackson had some of the best battle strategies. Ones that he liked to get Stiles' opinion on. Usually, it came off as Jackson telling him what was best, but he knew that the guy just wanted someone to back him up. When they weren't discussing tactics, they talked about their senior year and future plans. Jackson wanted to become a lawyer like his father. At least, that had always been his goal.
It was late afternoon when all of the windows were finally in place and Sari was complaining about dinner. The plumber and electrician had finished their work for the day with the intent to return the following to finish. With nothing else on the agenda, everyone was sent home to enjoy the rest of their day. Lydia immediately dragged Jackson to the mall with plans to buy their winter formal outfits. Scott and Allison were going to meet them there after dropping Sari off at home.
It was still 6 weeks away, scheduled right before winter break. He knew Scott and Allison were going, and Isaac was going to ask Kira. Stiles had no intention of going to the school dance. He didn't want to be a third wheel -or in this case, seventh. Besides, he was too uncoordinated at dances anyway. Stiles would much rather lay in bed and watch the newest Marvel movie than go and make an absolute fool of himself in front of the whole school.
Instead of joining his friends, he picked up dinner and headed for the station to meet with his dad. Noah beamed when he set the bag of food on his desk. He didn't even complain about the turkey burger or sweet potato fries. This was probably because Stiles was having dinner with him… and had brought a chocolate milkshake. Gotta live a little, life couldn't just be healthy food and exercise.
"So," his father asked after swallowing down a bite, "what colleges are you applying to, we're getting close."
"Still got six months, old man."
"And if you don't get a jump on the good colleges soon, all of the scholarships will be gone." It wasn't as if they could afford to send Stiles to some prestigious school without a full ride, which his grades would allow for.. if he really wanted to. Which, he didn't.
"Yeah. I know, I'm still thinking about it. I don't know, the only thing I've ever wanted to do was… this." He waved a hand around his father's office as an indication.
Noah exhaled heavily. "I want more for you than being a small-town cop, Stiles."
"Come on, dad. You know I'd be good at it." He grinned at his father.
"That's not the point, son. You're too smart to get stuck in Beacon Hills."
"There's nothing wrong with Beacon Hills. I like it here."
His father stared at him a moment, then grunted and took another bite. The subject was changed after that. "Christmas is coming up. What do you want?"
That was a question that required thought. Because he had everything he wanted. Mostly. The things he didn't have were either too expensive or weren't in his father's power to give. After a few minutes of silence, he raised one foot in the air. "Could use a new pair of shoes."
"Stiles.." it was said in that tone that said he was already exasperated. The words 'that's not what I meant' hung unspoken.
"I don't want much of anything, Dad. What do you want?"
Noah frowned at him around his straw. "A new pair of shoes."
Stiles snorted a laugh because he'd expected that. It was the same thing his father said every year, which was part of why he had said it. "How 'bout this, pops. Combine my Christmas, birthday, and graduation gifts all into one, and get me a laptop. Then you don't have to buy me anything for next year."
"Don't you want a party for your birthday… or graduation? Eighteen is pretty big."
"God, no. You know how I feel about the birthday song." It was creepy. Everyone basically chanting around a cake. No thanks. Stiles hadn't asked for a birthday party since his mother died. As far as graduation went: there would already be a ton of seniors throwing parties. If he really wanted to hit up any party he'd have quite the pick of them.
Noah laughed softly and nodded. "You know, I'd feel better about dropping a lot of money on a laptop if I knew it was being put to use for classes."
"I'll think about it, dad." Just as his father had done to change subjects, Stiles pointed toward the case files on his desk. "Anything interesting?"
"Nothing that concerns you." He must have spotted the determined look on his son's face because he sighed, "A couple of break-ins, an assault, and an escape from Eichen."
"Whoa! We've got a madman on the loose and that's not concerning? I think we need to talk about your definition of the word."
Noah leveled him with an unimpressed stare over his cup. "Pretty sure 'madman' isn't politically correct anymore. Besides, they're listed as a non-dangerous patient. Like I said: nothing that concerns you."
"Aw, come on, dad. Shouldn't we at least know who we're looking for, you know, in case they become 'dangerous'?"
"Don't you have school in the morning?"
Recognizing that as his cue to leave, he threw his arms in the air. "Yes!" Scoffing, he pushed himself up and gathered the trash from their meal. After throwing it out, he slung an arm over his father's shoulders in a quick hug, "You home late?"
"Couple hours still. Get home and get to bed, kid."
–
While Stiles knew that his father had always wanted something greater for him, it still bugged him that the guy didn't want his son to be a 'small-town cop'. Like following in his father's footsteps would be a bad thing. Of course, he couldn't completely follow, Stiles wouldn't do well in the Army like Noah had. his father had gone straight from being in the Army to being a deputy in Beacon Hills and it wasn't long before he was Sheriff. He'd have figured the guy would have felt some pride that his son wanted to not only do the same job but work with him. It was all Stiles had ever dreamed of: following the same path as his father. Of course, that was before being a werewolf, but it wasn't like turning had changed him that much. Minus the claws and fangs and Alpha status, that is. He still felt confident that he could do the job.
Or, maybe it was like his dad said. He just wanted something bigger and better for him, he thought while driving home. He remembered that as a kid he'd talked about being a G-man in the FBI. But what little boy didn't dream about being a super secret agent or spy? He knew that he could hack it in the FBI if he wanted to, that wasn't the issue. But he wanted to stay in Beacon Hills. He wanted to be around his friends, his dad, and his pack. Being a deputy was more than enough for him. And who knew, maybe one day he would be sheriff.
After a quick shower, he brushed his teeth and headed for bed while setting the alarm on his phone to wake him in the morning. His room smelled like Derek so much already because the elder teen had been in it so often, that Stiles didn't even realize he was there until lowering his phone and seeing him leaning against the wall. Thankfully, he managed not to jump. It was a close thing, though. "Jesus! I swear, I'm getting you a key. Save me a heart attack."
Derek flashed one of those smiles that made his stomach flutter and shrugged, "I'd still use the window."
"Did a door do something to you in a past life?" He teased while plugging his phone in and setting it on the bedside table. "Or are you just allergic to them?"
"Maybe I just like climbing through windows." Derek chuckled and waited for Stiles to be settled on 'his' side of the mattress before lying down.
"Cora still in your room?" Stiles fluffed the pillow behind his head before laying down properly, his arm brushing Derek's. For all the statements that his bed was big enough for the both of them, it was still next to impossible for the two to lay in it without touching. Not that either complained.
Derek grunted though he didn't seem to mind it as much as he had that first night he'd been here. "It's not like I can make her sleep on the couch. She spent the last six years sleeping in caves. She deserves something comfortable."
"So do you, Der." He turned his head toward him, brows raising. Derek deserved a lot. More than the guy ever would admit or even ask for.
"I've got you..." The words tumbled out immediately and his eyes widened just a touch before he cleared his throat. "Besides, once the pack house is finished she'll have her own room."
Stiles eyed him for a few seconds, trying to understand why Derek spoke so quickly to cover up what he'd said. He'd already assumed that being here provided some level of comfort for the guy, otherwise Derek wouldn't have continued coming back. When he couldn't figure it out, he reached out and patted Derek's arm with a smile. "You've always got me, big guy." Rolling onto his side away from the man, he said goodnight and pulled his pillow closer to hug it.
He always fell asleep facing away from Derek and usually woke up curled into the teen's side, or with Derek's arm slung over him. Still, Stiles figured he could give the guy the courtesy of not immediately draping himself over him. Plus, this way he could blame the cuddles on not being awake if anyone -Derek- asked.
–
He woke a short while later to a hand raking through his hair; the feeling both soothing him back to sleep and stirring him at the same time. Mostly because the last time someone had done that was when his mother was alive. Both his arm and leg were draped over Derek, holding him like a teddy bear. Derek's other arm was tucked beneath his head so that it rested on his shoulder. The whole time those thick fingers combed through his hair and he found himself nuzzling deeper into Derek's chest to revel in that contact.
He wished he could feign sleep as easily for a werewolf as he could his father if only to savor it a little longer because the moment Derek realized he was awake it stopped. He turned to pout sleepily at him, voice clogged with sleep. "I was enjoying that."
Derek exhaled a laugh. "You're drooling on me."
"That's because it felt so good." He replied matter-of-factly and laughed, though didn't pull away. Derek didn't either.
Instead, the elder teen smiled and reached out to push his hand back through Stiles' hair once more. He didn't stop to think that it might be awkward for Derek before snuggling back against his side, content there. It wasn't like the other teen was pushing him away, so Stiles took that to mean he didn't mind. The arm under his head shifted to hesitantly wrap around him. It all felt so natural. Even the way Derek's fingers trailed from his hair down the back of his neck, then along the curve of his jaw before repeating the motion.
Humming happily, Stiles nuzzled closer. He'd thought he was content before, with Derek lying in his bed. Then Stiles had thought nothing would compare to waking up with Derek's arm draped around him. This? This was so much better than anything he could have imagined. It was like the whole of the world was at peace, if only for this moment. His breathing evened out and he'd almost fallen back to sleep when Derek tensed slightly, his hand drifting away. "I should go." He whispered.
All thoughts of sleep vanished with that sentence and his head popped up off of Derek's shoulder, eyes wide. "Why?" He cursed the way his voice squeaked and the pathetic way he unconsciously gripped Derek tighter.
Derek met his gaze, looking rather baffled and maybe even a little rattled at the reaction. "Your dad's home."
He'd ignored the sound of gravel crunching under tires outside in favor of listening to Derek's steady heartbeat. And now he had to pretend their faces weren't inches from one another. Swallowing hard, Stiles pulled back just a smidge. "I mean, you can stay, if you want to, that is."
"I'd rather not have your dad aim a gun at me." Amusement flickered in his eyes but there was something else there. Something Stiles couldn't place as the elder teen glanced away.
"So, stand over there so he doesn't see you, then come back to bed?" He suggested, waving idly toward the closet. Which was just out of sight of the door if his father peeked in on him. Some nights he did, others he was too exhausted.
Derek looked that way, then stared back at him as if contemplating it. Raising one brow, he asked. "Are you planning to let me get up or just keep clinging to me like an octopus?"
"That depends." He pressed, "Are you leaving? I rather enjoy having a teddy bear and I doubt my dad would pull his gun anyway."
Derek rolled his eyes in that classic 'give me patience' way, a faint smile on his lips. "No, I'm not leaving."
Unable to contain the grin that threatened his lips, Stiles rolled onto his back to allow Derek to move as he heard his father's footsteps on the stairs. The elder teen had barely tucked himself in the corner and Stiles feigned sleep when his door opened. His father stood in the doorway just long enough to check that his son was actually there before closing the door and trudging off to his room. Stiles heard him yawn loudly as his own door closed down the hall. He looked toward Derek when the other teen eased back onto the mattress.
He didn't hesitate to wrap himself around Derek again when he'd settled down, earning a quiet laugh before his fingers carded back through Stiles' hair. He was comfortable there and it wasn't like Derek protested it. In fact, with the way his arm wrapped back around him, he'd have said the elder teen was comfortable too. Squeezing in a slight hug, like he would have his pillow, Stiles yawned. "Thanks, Der."
The motion paused for a split second. "For what?"
"Staying." Derek's chest moved as he exhaled a silent laugh though he said nothing, just resumed combing his fingers through Stiles' hair until he drifted off again.